Roof ventilator with u-shaped flue cap



7, 1968 s. J. ACOSTA 3,398,671

ROOF VENTILATOR WITH U-SHAPED FLUE CAP Filed Oct. 18, 1966 INVENTOR.

SALVADOR 1.4100874 United States PatentC 3,398,671 ROOF VENTILATOR WITHU-SHAPED FLUE CAP Salvador J. Acosta, San Jose, Calif., assignor to W.A.

Call Mfg. Inc., San Jose, Calif., a corporation of i California FiledOct. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 587,476 10 Claims. (Cl. 98-60) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This invention relates to a cap arrangement for pipes andventilating fines and the like. In the construction of buildings it iscommon practice to extend flue ducts and pipes up through the roof foran appreciable distance to v discharge fumes, gases, odors and smoke. Ingeneral it is the custom to extend asbestos type flues from burners andthe like through the roof. According to safe practice these flues andpipes must be protected by a sleeve-like covering in order to preventleaks through the roof during inclement weather. Moreover, it is alsonecessary to cover the open upper end of such metal covering with a hoodto prevent rain and snow from going down the flue. More important,however, it is essential that the hood be in situ to prevent downdraftswhich might extinguish the flame of gas burners and the like.

7 A long standing major problem in the construction art resides in thefact that the installation of such cap and hood arrangements must beinspected by building inspectors before they will be acceptable for use.Consequently, only partial installation can be made to enable suchinspection after which the balance of structure, such as hooding, can becompleted. Since the upper sleeve and cap are .often laid aside untilthe inspector comes to examine the installation, often such parts aremisplaced, lost and/or damaged.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an assembled sleeveand cap arrangement which remains a single unit facilitating inspectionwithout removal of parts.

It is an object of this invention to provide a unitary cap and sleeveassembly for vent flues which can be installed complete and laterinspected and ultimately used.

It is another object to provide a flexible cover for a vent flue withina baffle cap and means for securing such cover during use and enablingpartial removal for purposes of inspection and/or cleaning.

It is yet another object to provide a flexible cover having one sidefixed to a vent sleeve and its other side releasably attachable to suchsleeve for enabling inspection down the open end of such vent sleeve. Inthis connection it is a further object to provide such flexible coverwith downwardly diverging edges between its top and connecting sides toassure against back pressures building up within the flue pipe uponwhich the ventilator cap is mounted.

It is still further object to coordinate such flexible cover with abaffle cap circumscribing the same and the open upper end of theventilator sleeve and flue to guard against cross drafts through theflexible cover.

These and other objects and advantages of the present 3,398,6 71Patented Aug. 27, 1968 invention will become apparent in the followingdescription and drawing in which: i

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of sleeve, cap and'hood for roof ventilatorsembodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial section through FIG. 1' taken substantially alongline 22 therein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of that portion of" the present inventionshown in FIG. 2, parts being broken away for purpose of illustration.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modified-form of the present inventionadapted for oval type flues and pipes asdistinguished from the roundtype of FIGS. 1 to Referring to the drawing'a complete roof ventilatorunit is shown in FIG.- 1 as comprising a roof cone 11, a sleeve 12, abaffle cap 13 and aflue cover 14 embodying the present invention. I

The flue or pipeF by which fumes-are conducted from the source to theopen air above the roof is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. This flue Fmay be round or oval shaped as required. It extends through a roughopening 0 in the sheathing S of the roof R. The roof cone 11 fits overthe flue pipe F and has a base plate 15 secured to the sheathing S. Theroof cone 11 also includes a frusto conical cone 16 having its broadbase sealingly secured to the base plate 15 by a suitable seam, crimpingand solder in a conventional manner. The upper end of the frusto conicalcone 16 is open to a size conforming to the outer diameter of the fluepipe F for frictional-sliding fit relative thereto.

The sleeve 12 is slightly tapered from a larger size at its open bottom17 to its open upper end 18 sized to fit snugly the outer dimension ofthe flue pipe F adjacent its open upper end E. The larger open bottom 17of the sleeve 12 is slightly larger in size than the cone to fit overthe tapered upper end of the frusto conical cone 16. The arrangement issuch as to have the sleeve tiltably supported on the conical member 11.To this extent the lower end of the sleeve 12 is provided with a pair ofdiametrically opposed tabs 19 pivotally secured to the frusto conicalcone 16 by aligned rivets 20 midway the upper and lower ends of the cone16. In the case of an oval shaped flue sleeve and cone as exemplified inFIG. 4, the rivets 20 would be aligned on the opposite ends of the longaxis of the structure. The sleeve 12 is thus supported on the pivot pinsor rivets 20 and the open bottom 17 of the sleeve free to move intodifferent angular positions relative to the cone 16. In this manner thesleeve 12, although secured to the cone 16 is adjustable angularlyrelative to the cone. By this arrangement, regardless of the pitch ofthe roof or its nearness to level, the sleeve 12 can always bevertically disposed in alignment with the flue rising through the roof.

As previously stated, the upper end of the flue pipe F fits relativelysnugly within the tapered upper end 18 of the sleeve 12 so as to preventfumes from passing down into the house or building.

The baffle cap 13 is suitably secured to the upper end 18 of the sleeve12 by a plurality of brackets 21. In the case of a round unit (FIGS. 1,2 and 3) three such brackets would be used. However, in the oval shape(FIG. 4) four such brackets 21 would be employed. These brackets 21 .areidentical in that each has a lower portion 22 secured to the sleeve 12,an offset medial portion 23, and an upper portion 24 secured to thebaflle cap 13 within its orbit.

The bafl lle cap 13 surrounds the open upper end 18 of the sleeve 12 andis concentrically spaced relative thereto. Assuming the upper end 18 ofthe sleeve 12 to be approximately four inches in diameter, the cap 13 isspaced approximately 1% inches from the sleeve. The lower edge 25 of thecap 13 is disposed below the upper edge of the sleeve such that animaginary line L extended between them is at an angle between 22 and 28relative to horizontal H. In this manner the open upper end of thesleeve 12 is shielded against direct lateral drafts of outside wind. Thefumes, etc., rising out of the flue F usually being of a highertemperature tend to rise rather than descend through the baffle cap 13.

The upper end of the baffle cap 13 is open. However, in accordance withthe present invention, the open upper end of the sleeve 12 and flue pipeis suitably covered by a flip-cap 26. This flip-cap 26 is formed offlexible sheet metal similar to that of the cone, sleeve and baflle. Theflip-cap 26 is formed of an oval or disc-shaped blank B having a majordiameter slightly less than that of the inner diameter of the baffle cap13. This blank B is U- shaped about its major diameter and has a pair ofdiametrically opposed tabs 27 and 28, on an axis transverse to the crown29 of the U-shape. One of the tabs 27 is secured by rivets 30 to theupper end 18 of the sleeve 12. In FIG. 1 the tab 27 is shown secured bythe same rivets 30 between the lower portion 23 of a single back bracket21 and the sleeve. However, in FIG. 4 the tab 27 is shown secureddirectly to the sleeve 12.

The bowed portion 29 of the flip-cap 26 has a radius substantiallyidentical to that of the open upper end 18 of the sleeve 12 so that thetab 28 diametrically opposite the tab 27 secured to the sleeve assumes aposition against the sleeve 12.

The tab 28 cooperates with a loop 31 on the sleeve 12 to receive the tab28 for holding the flip-cap 26 in a position to overlay the upper end ofthe sleeve 12. The loop 31 may be struck out from the materialconstituting the sleeve or may be a loop strap having its ends solderedto the sleeve as shown. In either case, the tab 28 can be inserteddownwardly through the loop 31 and its extreme end 32 bent up to holdthe flip-cap in bowed position over the open upper end of the sleeve 12.

By the foregoing arrangement the open upper end B of the flue pipe F iscovered against rain or snow as well as downdrafts of wind. However,should inspection be required, it can be done by simply releasing thetab 28 from the loop 31 to free the flip-cap 26 for flexing upwardly andoutwardly within the baflle cap 13. In this manner the open upper end ofthe sleeve and flue pipe are exposed to view for inspection and/orcleaning. When the tab 28 is again inserted through the loop 31 and itsextreme end 32 bent up the flip-cap 26 again covers the open end of theflue and sleeve to serve its purpose as a cover and deflector.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the top periphery of the bowed portion 29of the cap 26 spans the inner diameter of the baflle cap 13. However,the curved lower edges 33 and 34 of the flip-cap 26 diverge inwardly ofthe baffle cap 13 and toward the sleeve 12 thus providing sufficientarea of exit for fumes, smoke and odors such as to assure against backpressure within the flue as well as guarding against downdraft of windinto the same.

While I have described my new unitary cover, cap and mounting for rooftype ventilators in specific detail, it will be appreciated that thesame may be susceptible to variation, alteration and/or modificationwithout departing from the spirit or scope of my invention therein. Itherefore desire to avail myself of all variations, alterations and/ormodification as may fairly come within the purview of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A unitary roof ventilator adapted for installation as a single unitover a flue pipe and the like extending vertically upward through anopening in a roof structure and comprising in combination:

(a) a base including a plate adapted to be secured parallel to such roofstructure and a roof cone formed integrally with said base plate tocircumscribe such flue pipe and provide a weathertight flashing aroundthe same and the opening in such roof structure,

(b) an open-ended sleeve having its lower end permanently connected tosaid roof cone by diametrically opposed rivets for rockability about anaxis transverse to the pitch of such roof structure and for disposingsaid sleeve concentric to such vertically extending flue pipe,

(c) a baflle cap having an open top and bottom,

(d) bracket means between the upper end of said sleeve and said bafliecap for permanently securing the latter concentric to said sleeve withthe upper end above the open upper end of said sleeve and the lower openend of the baflle cap disposed in spaced realtion to and below the openupper end of said sleeve, and

(e) an inspection flip-cap confined within said batfle cap comprising aU shape bowed flexible blank having one leg thereof permanently secureto the upper end of said sleeve and diametrically opposite means on saidsleeve and blank for releasably securing the other leg of said blank tosaid sleeve to thereby form a U shaped down draft cover over said fluepipe and facilitate detachment of said other leg of said blank from saidsleeve to thereby free said one leg of said flip-cap for manual flexingof the latter to partially uncover said flue pipe during inspection andcleaning of said flue pipe after permanent installation of said unitaryroof ventilator thereon.

2. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 1 in which the bafflecap thereof has the lower edge of its open lower end disposed at anangle of between 22 and 28 to horizontal below and relative to the openupper end of said sleeve.

3. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 1 in which said flip-capcomprises a substantially circular U- shaped blank having a bowedportion spanning the inner confines of said baflle cap and overlying theopen upper end of said sleeve.

4. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 1 in which said flip-capcomprises a substantially elliptical U-shaped blank having a bowedportion spanning its major axis and parallel to the major diametric ofsuch flue pipe and overlying said flue pipe and the open upper end ofsaid sleeve for covering the same.

5. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 4 in which the bafllecap thereof has the lower edge of its open lower end disposed at anangle of between 22 and 28 to horizontal below and relative to the openupper end of said sleeve.

6. In combination with a roof ventilator of the type having a roof coneflashing for a flue pipe and the like extending vertically above a roofstructure and a cover sleeve having its lower end connected to said roofcone flashing,

(a) a batfle cap having an open top and bottom,

(b) bracket means between the upper end of said sleeve and said bafllecap for supporting the latter concentric to said sleeve with its upperend above the open upper end of said sleeve and its lower open enddisposed in spaced relation to and below the open upper end of saidsleeve, and

(c) an inspection flip-cap confined within said baffie cap comprising aU-shaped flexible blank having a pair of diametrically opposed tabs onopposite sides of said blank, means for securing the tab on one side ofsaid blank to the upper end of said sleeve and a loop formed on theother side of said sleeve releasably securing the tab on the other sideof said blank to the upper end of said sleeve.

7. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 6 in which said flip-capcomprises a substantially circular U- shaped blank having a bowedportion spanning the inner confines of said baflle cap and overlying theopen upper end of said sleeve.

8. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 6 in which said flip-capcomprises a substantially elliptical U- shaped blank having a bowedportion spanning its major axis and parallel to the major diametric ofsuch flue pipe and overlying said flue pipe and the open upper end ofsaid sleeve for covering the same.

9. The roof ventilator in accordance with that of claim 6 in which thebafile cap thereof has its lower open end disposed at an angle ofbetween 22 and 28 to horiz0ntal below the open upper end of said sleeve.

10. The roof ventilator in accordance with claim 9 in which saidflip-cap comprises a substantially elliptical U- shaped blank having abowed portion spanning its major axis and parallel to the majordiametric of such flue pipe and overlying said flue pipe and the openupper end of said sleeve for covering the same.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 879,987 2/ 1908 Thompson 98461,510,265 9/1924 Filkins 98-60 1,704,942 3/ 1929 Hopson 9846 2,909,11310/ 1959 Hatcher 98-84 XR 2,985,091 5/1961 Hatcher 98-46 ROBERT A.OLEARY, Primary Examiner. M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner.

